TWO TYRONE GAMES SET FOR OMAGH ANNIVERSARY
Two Tyrone games set for Omagh anniversary
By Orla Bannon
THE Tyrone county board is likely to come under pressure tonight to cancel fixtures scheduled for August 15 - the first anniversary of the Omagh bombing.
Tyrone's Games Administration Committee has ensured no league matches will be played on that emotional date but the county board, which is responsible for setting the championship fixtures, has pencilled in two county finals to take place that evening.
The county senior hurling final, which according to rules in Tyrone must be played on a Sunday, and the junior football final are down for decision on the evening of August 15.
There is widespread anger among GAA followers in the county at what many see as insensitive timing, and this is surely bound to be taken into account at tonight's county board meeting.
Several Tyrone county board officers, including chairman Cuthbert Donnelly, were given the opportunity yesterday to explain the reasoning behind the decision. All declined to do so.
None felt able to offer an opinion on whether the body would choose this evening to postpone the two finals to an alternative date.
One did point out, however, that although it is customary practice within the GAA to cancel fixtures as a mark of respect on the death of loved ones connected with clubs and counties, this could not be expected to hold true of first anniversaries.
One alternative for the Tyrone board would be to re-schedule the senior hurling final for August 22. Although the Ulster Club Championship starts on that date the Tyrone champions do not play until the following Sunday.
But if the matches go ahead as planned, many areas of the county effected by the bombing atrocity will be involved.
Omagh and Carrickmore meet next Monday in the county hurling championship semi-final with Dungannon and Strabane contesting the other.
Drumragh play Derrytresk in one of the junior football semi-finals with Clogher and Stewartstown in the second semi-final.
The GAA community in the county was directly caught up in the events of August 15 of last year. Players, officials and supporters were among those who suffered as a consequence of the atrocity.
By Orla Bannon
THE Tyrone county board is likely to come under pressure tonight to cancel fixtures scheduled for August 15 - the first anniversary of the Omagh bombing.
Tyrone's Games Administration Committee has ensured no league matches will be played on that emotional date but the county board, which is responsible for setting the championship fixtures, has pencilled in two county finals to take place that evening.
The county senior hurling final, which according to rules in Tyrone must be played on a Sunday, and the junior football final are down for decision on the evening of August 15.
There is widespread anger among GAA followers in the county at what many see as insensitive timing, and this is surely bound to be taken into account at tonight's county board meeting.
Several Tyrone county board officers, including chairman Cuthbert Donnelly, were given the opportunity yesterday to explain the reasoning behind the decision. All declined to do so.
None felt able to offer an opinion on whether the body would choose this evening to postpone the two finals to an alternative date.
One did point out, however, that although it is customary practice within the GAA to cancel fixtures as a mark of respect on the death of loved ones connected with clubs and counties, this could not be expected to hold true of first anniversaries.
One alternative for the Tyrone board would be to re-schedule the senior hurling final for August 22. Although the Ulster Club Championship starts on that date the Tyrone champions do not play until the following Sunday.
But if the matches go ahead as planned, many areas of the county effected by the bombing atrocity will be involved.
Omagh and Carrickmore meet next Monday in the county hurling championship semi-final with Dungannon and Strabane contesting the other.
Drumragh play Derrytresk in one of the junior football semi-finals with Clogher and Stewartstown in the second semi-final.
The GAA community in the county was directly caught up in the events of August 15 of last year. Players, officials and supporters were among those who suffered as a consequence of the atrocity.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0288
Published Date: 27-Jul-99
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